Warner Brothers’ \\The Ant Bully\\ opens today in 3,050 theatres, according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2006&wk=30&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. The film gets mixed reviews from the critics, garnering a just rotten 53% at {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ant_bully/ Rotten Tomatoes}}. \\Entertainment Weekly\\ says it is “an effortlessly clever animated confection”. However, the \\Hollywood Reporter\\ says the film is “anonymously generic […]

After a surprisingly low box office for Warner Brothers’ \\Lady in the Water\\, Columbia Pictures’ \\Monster House\\ was able to take second place in its opening weekend with $22.2 million according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2119&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. Rory Bruer, Sony’s president of distribution, called it “a terrific start” for the film. The box office tally […]

Columbia Pictures’ \\{{link http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/monsterhouse/site/ Monster House}}\\ opens wide today in 3,553 theatres according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2006&wk=29&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. The film is doing fairly well with reviewers, just getting in to a fresh rating of 64% on {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10005292-monster_house/ Rotten Tomatoes}}. Of those who liked the film \\The New York Times\\ calls it a “marvelously […]

Three years after its cancellation on Fox, the animated TV series \\Futurama\\ has been picked up by Comedy Central, {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=15106 Comingsoon.net}} reports. The cable network has ordered thirteen new episodes which are slated to begin airing in 2008, and will bring the total number of series episodes to 85. Creators Matt Groening and David […]

In an impressive marketing ploy designed to promote next week’s release of the highly anticipated feature film \\Superman Returns\\, Warner Brothers is releasing a large number of Superman franchise DVD’s today. The animated releases are: \\Justice League\\ – Season Two \\Krypto the Superdog\\ – Vol. 1 Cosmic Canine \\Superman: The Animated Series\\ – Volume Three […]

Pixar’s \\Cars\\ opens today at 3,985 theatres according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2006&wk=23&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. The film’s reviews, while not as universally positive as director John Lasseter’s previous films, still merit a fresh rating of 77% on {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10004076-cars/ Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer}}. The critical consensus is that “while the story may not reach the high standards […]

{{link http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=2900 Animation World Network}} goes in-depth into the technical aspects of the making of \\Cars\\, which they call “John Lasseter’s most mature and personal” film yet. Talking with the creators themselves, including supervising animator Doug Sweetland and supervising technical director Eben Ostby, part one of the article focuses on character and lighting innovations. Also […]

A French teaser trailer is now online at {{link http://fr.movies.yahoo.com/features/arthur_et_les_minimoys/ Yahoo! France}} for \\{{link http://www.arthur-lelivre.com/ Arthur and the Minimoys}}\\. {{link http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=14872 ComingSoon.net}} reports that the film, written and directed by Luc Besson, will be released by The Weinstein Company this Christmas, and features Freddie Highmore, Madonna, David Bowie, and Snoop Dogg.

\\Over the Hedge\\ crashed through the $100 million mark this weekend, according to {{link http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=overthehedge.htm Box Office Mojo}}. So far the film has grossed over $112.4 million. \\Ice Age: The Meltdown\\ was the last animated film to reach that mark on its way to its current take of $191.5 million.

{{link http://news.awn.com/index.php?ltype=top&newsitem_no=17091 Animation World Network}} reports that Warner Brothers has picked up an animated script from actor {{link http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000729/ Casey Affleck}} titled \\Aardvark Art’s Ark\\. “The story centers on the adventures of an animal family aboard Noah’s Ark”.

20th Century Fox has moved the release of \\{{link http://www.garfieldmovie.com/ Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties}}\\ from June 23rd to June 16th. In other \\Garfield\\ news, {{link http://www.catster.com/garfield/?PHPSESSID=e98f66701e2e707f9800295e263258ed Catster}} (the networking community for cats) is holding a Royal Treatment Sweepstakes where 10 lucky cats, and their human, can win a Hagen Living World Cat Spa.

{{link http://refrederator.com/ ReFrederator}}, which posts free classic cartoon podcasts daily, has announced that this week’s downloads will feature some of the great animation shorts directors from the golden age of cartoons. You can see ReFrederator by downloading the episodes at their website or by subscribing through iTunes. According to ReFrederator, Great Director Week will include: […]

The Toronto Animated Image Society is presenting the documentary \\Dream On Silly Dreamer\\ on June 8th, followed by a panel of former Disney artists including Scott Caple from the California studio, Andrew Hickson from Disney Florida, Rob Bekuhrs from the California and Florida studios, and Shawn Seles from the Toronto studio will discuss their own […]

The Los Angeles Professional Chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH is hosting a discussion on the design and execution of visual effects in IMAX films. The event will include a screening of the film \\Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon\\ followed by a panel discussion. Tim Sassoon and Johnathan Banta of Sassoon Film Design will present some […]

{{link http://www.starwars.com/clonewars/about/news/news20060525.html Apple and Lucasfilm have announced}} the availability of the first twenty chapters of \\Star Wars: Clone Wars\\ on the iTunes Music Store. The Emmy-award winning animated series directed by Genndy Tartakovsky will be available for download individually at $1.99 or at $10.99 for the entire first volume. Volume 2 will soon follow. If […]

After {{link http://www.animatedviews.com/wp-content/uploads/archives/00005072.html yesterday’s story}} that the {{link http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/monsterhouse/site/ official \\Monster House\\ website}} had a PG-13 warning listed in a PG rating box, Sony Pictures Animation has had the error corrected and confirms that the film will be rated PG – Parental Guidance Suggested.

DreamWorks’ \\Over the Hedge\\ exceeded expectations but couldn’t break \\The Da Vinci Code\\. According to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=20&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}, \\Over the Hedge\\ took in $37.2 million for a second place finish at the box office.

Animation fans with high definition televisions are in luck, with two films being shown in the format over the next few weeks. {{link http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&ID=115494 HBO-HD}} is airing Fox/Blue Sky’s \\Robots\\ until April 29th, including tonight. {{link http://www.hd.net/movies_schedule_by_title.html#M0885 HDNet Movies}} premieres \\The Triplets of Belleville\\ tonight, running until May 11th.

According to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=15&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}} estimates, \\The Wild\\ finished in fourth place in its opening weekend with a lower than expected $9.6 million. \\Ice Age: The Meltdown\\ continues to heat up the box office, bringing in an additional $20 million in its third weekend. So far the film has racked up $147 million.

Angela Bassett spoke with {{link http://blackfilm.com/20060414/features/angelinabassettnews.shtml Blackfilm.com}} about her role in Disney’s upcoming \\Meet The Robinsons\\. “I’m little Robinson’s foster mother and trying to know him, and love him. He’s a different little kid and I’m trying to find talent for him and trying to keep his spirit up…”

Nearly a year before its March 2007 theatrical release, Starz Kids & Family viewers will get an exclusive sneak peek at Walt Disney’s \\Meet the Robinsons\\ on Friday, April 14 at 4:28 pm and 7:39 pm (ET/PT). The preview will play through Sunday, April 23. About the film: “Based on William Joyce’s book \\A Day […]

Check out these two new TV spots for \\The Wild\\, and get a glimpse into the adventures Samson the Lion, Nigel the Koala, Bridget the Giraffe, Benny the Squirrel, and Larry the Snake encounter in the streets of New York City:

Disney/C.O.R.E.’s \\The Wild\\ opens today at 2,854 theatres according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2006&wk=15&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. The film’s reviews have been disappointing, scoring only 22% on {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wild/ Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer}}. The critical consensus is that “with a rehashed plot and unimpressive animation, there’s nothing wild about \\The Wild\\”. A third place finish for the weekend […]

{{link http://news.com.com/Disney+to+make+TV+shows+available+free+on+Web/2100-1026_3-6059298.html?tag=nefd.top Reuters}} reports that the ABC television network, owned by the Walt Disney Company, will offer some of its most popular TV shows online for free. Starting in May and June shows like \\Alias\\, \\Commander in Chief\\, \\Desperate Housewives\\, and \\Lost\\ will be available for viewing online the day after they air. The shows […]

Villagers in England hire guards to protect their beloved vegetable gardens from a monster rabbit. Plot of last years best animated film? True, but life is mimicing art in the village of Felton, according to {{link http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060407/od_afp/afplifestylebritainfoodrabbitoffbeat;_ylt=AqaeCQt4FsD0IZZYOdPR0mGs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3ODdxdHBhBHNlYwM5NjQ- AFP}}. Resident Jeff Smith said, “It is a massive thing. It is a monster”. George Brown added, “I […]

Karl Cohen shares with us a piece about Pixar’s upcoming film \\Cars\\ that he wrote for the April {{link http://www.asifa-sf.org/ ASIFA-SF}} newsletter: PIXAR’S \\CARS\\ IMPRESSED THEATER OWNERS AND REVIEWERS AT SHOWEST IN MARCH Reuters’ reported a Canadian theater owner said, “I thought it was a great movie” and that he believed the film would have […]

Easily beating estimates, \\Ice Age: The Meltdown\\ took in a staggering $68 million at the weekend box office according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=2006&wknd=13&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. The total easily bests the previous top opening weekend in March of $46.3 million set by the original \\Ice Age\\ back in 2002. Overall, the film had the 21st biggest […]

Coming as a bit of a surprise, even after years of speculation, teaser trailers in front of \\Ice Age: The Meltdown\\ announce that a \\Simpsons\\ movie will be a reality in 2007, according to {{link http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=22909 Ain’t It Cool News}}. “The teasers appear to come in at least two flavors. One of the teasers is […]

(NOTE: click here to see how this page looked on April Fool’s Day 2006) AOL Acquires Animated News, Inc. AOL Extends Leadership in Online Entertainment News Hollywood, California – Online consumers seeking the best animation news will now find it on the leading free portal on the web – AOL.com. Animated News, Inc. has been […]

Fox/Blue Sky’s \\Ice Age: The Meltdown\\ opens today at 3,963 theatres according to {{link http://www.boxofficemojo.com/counts/chart/?yr=2006&wk=13&p=.htm Box Office Mojo}}. The film’s reviews come in just on the Fresh side of {{link http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/ice_age_2/ Rotten Tomatoes’}} Tomatometer with 62%. The critical consensus seems to be just the opposite of the the original: “Impressive animation carries this sequel, as […]